Compensating back chair



Aug. 22., J. A. BURNS 3,337,266

CQMPENSATING BACK CHAIR Filed Feb. 1, 1966 United States Patent Ofiice 3,337,266 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 3,337,266 COMPENSATING BACK CHAIR John A. Burns, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Belvedere Products, Inc, Belvidere, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 524,131 13 Claims. (Cl. 297317) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A chair in which the seat is moved forward as the back pivots about a shaft. A pair of links are pivotally connected to the seat and to the shaft and are provided with a lost-motion connection to the back. Springs are engaged with the links and the back to provide resilient connection therebetween.

This invention relates in general to reclining chairs.

The present invention provides a reclining chair in which the back has limited swinging movement when the chair is in its reclined position.

The present invention is especially useful in barber or beauty shops for reclining an occupant to position his or her head over a shampoo bowl. Naturally, such occupants will vary considerably in stature and posture. There have been previous chairs with reclining backs;

however, it has been found that these are not comfortable to all of the various occupants. This is because the reclined back rest does not always provide support across the entire back of the occupant, frequently leaving the lumbar area unsupported. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a reclining chair which is more comfortable to a wide range of occupants.

Another object is to provide a reclining chair which provides full support for the back of the occupant.

Still another object is to provide a chair in accordance With the foregoing in which the back compensates to provide full support for the occupants back.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reclining chair in which the seat moves to a forward position when the back is reclined and in which the back has limited swinging movement after the seat has reached its forward position.

These, together with other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention and illustrating a moved position in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a view, in part elevational and in part sectional, taken generally along plane 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view, on a larger scale, taken along plane 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the relationship of the parts in a moved position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the chair includes a frame 12, a seat 14, and a back 16. The frame may be of any convenient configuration and is herein illustrated as including side members 18 and 19 which have a generally inverted U-shaped configuration providing integral front and rear legs and an arm rest. The side members are rigidly interconnected by means of cross braces 21-23. The back is pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a pivot shaft 25 supported by the side members. Preferably, the shaft 25 extends through the back at a point approximately a quarter of the distance from the bottom thereof. A seat 14 is supported on the frame forwardly of the back in one position, shown in FIG. 1, and is movable therefrom to another position shown in phantom in FIG. 1. Preferably there is means for limiting the movement of the seat in the position shown and, in the embodiment illustrated, such means is in the form of a front stop 27 and a rear stop 28 mounted on the bottom of the seat for engaging cross member 21 when the seat is in said one and said other position, respectively. The back portion of the seat is preferably supported on pivot shaft 25 and, for this purpose, a pair of identical brackets, 32, 32' are mounted on the back of the seat adjacent the sides thereof. Each bracket conveniently includes a right and a left hand angle member which are spaced apart a preselected distance and mounted on the seat as by fasteners 34. A pair of identical links or straps, generally designated 36, 36 are disposed in the space provided by the brackets and are pivotally mounted thereto as by pins 38, 38, respectively. In this manner, the lower portion of the strap or linkage is pivotally mounted on the seat and the upper ends thereof are pivotally mounted on shaft 25, as illustrated.

The back may be formed in any convenient manner, and is herein illustrated as being framed with top and bottom members 41 and 42 respectively, and side members 43, 44 having spacers 45, 46 which aid in positioning the linkage. A support member 48, conveniently made of pressed wood, is attached to the front of the frame to support a cushion 49 adjacent the front side of the back. Bottom frame member 42 preferably has openings or clearance slots therein to accommodate passage of the straps 36, 36. In this manner the upper portion of each strap is disposed inside the back of the chair.

Preferably, each strap 36, 36' has an arcuate slot 52 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) in the portion of the strap disposed inside the back and spaced a radial distance from shaft 25. A headed pin 54 passes through the slot and is secured in the respective spacer block 45 or 46. In this manner, the back is provided with a lost-motion means for limited swinging movement about the pivot shaft 25 relative to links 36, 36.

A pair of torsion springs 56, 56 is engaged with the back and the links to urge the back to an upright position. Preferably the torsion springs are mounted on shaft 25 as by several windings around the shaft (see FIG. 2) and have a watered or straight end portion secured to member 48 of the back as by fasteners 57 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The opposite end is conveniently U-shaped for engaging the back side of the respective strap or link. Preferably, the engagement is to a portion of the link disposed inside the back thereby hiding the connection and presenting a more attractive product. The spring ordinarily urges the back toward an upright position in reference to the link, and pin 54 engages the rear end of the arcuate slot to provide a stop for such movement. Preferably the springs are relatively strong and, when the chair is occupied by an occupant and the back is tilted backward, the force operates through the spring and linkage to slide the seat member forward. When stop 28 engages cross member 21, forward motion of the seat is stopped. At this point with some occupants, there will be space between the lower portion of the back cushion and the lumbar area of the occupants back. To compensate for this and provide full support for the back of the occupant, an additional latitude of movement of the back member is provided by the aforedescribed spring and lost-motion means which allow the back to continue to rotate about pivot 25. Such rotation is caused by pressure of the shoulders of the occupant against the upper portion of the back and the rotation will continue until support is provided in the lumbar region of the occupants back, thereby giving support across the entire back area. Such a position is illustrated in FIG. 4. Pin 54- at this point does not necessarily engage the forward end of arcuate slot 52; however, it is possible that the back may continue to rotate until the pin does engage the forward end of the slot. In the position illustrated in FIG. 4, however, and assuming that the lumbar area of the back is being supported, the pressure exerted by the shoulders of the occupant is counterbalanced by the springs 56, 56' and the pressure exerted by the lumbar region. In this manner, then, the back of the chair can assume any of various comfortable positions to compensate for various statures and postures of various occupants.

It is now deemed obvious that the present invention provides a reclining chair which provides full support for the back of the occupant and is thus more comfortable to a wide range of occupants who may be using the chair. It is also deemed abvious that the back has limited swinging movement after the seat has reached its forward position and that this movement compensates to provide such support for the occupants back.

While I have thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention, this has been done by way of illustration and not limitation, and I do not wish to be limited except as required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A chair comprising: a frame; a back having upper and lower ends; means mounting the back on the frame for swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis intermediate its upper and lower ends; a seat supported on the frame forwardly of the back in one position, and movable from said one position to another position forwardly therefrom; stop means on the chair for limiting movement of the seat at said positions; and means operatively connected to the seat and the back for urging the seat toward said other position when the back is reclined and for providing limited swinging movement of the back after the stop means limits forward movement of the seat at said other position; said last-mentioned means including linkage means operatively connected to the seat for urging the seat toward said other position when the back is reclined and lost-motion means operatively connected to the back for engaging the linkage means to limit said swinging movement of the back.

2. A chair as set forth in claim 1 including means engaged with the back and the linkage means for resiliently urging the back toward an upright position.

3. A chair as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means mounting the back on the frame member includes a generally horizontal pivot shaft extending through said back; wherein said linkage means is pivotally connected to the seat and to the pivot shaft, and including means on said pivot shaft and engaged with the back and said linkage means for resiliently urging the back toward an upright position.

4. A chair as set fort hin claim 1 wherein said linkage means has an arcuate slot spaced radially from said pivot shaft, and wherein said lost-motion means includes a finger mounted on the back and disposed in said slot.

5. A chair comprising: a frame; a back having upper and lower ends; pivot means attached intermediate said upper and lower ends for pivotally mounting the back on the frame; a seat supported on the frame adjacent the lower end of the back and forwardly thereof in one position and movable to another position forwardly therefrom; linkage means having a lower portion pivotally connected to the seat and an upper portion pivotally connected to the pivot means for pivotal movement relative to the back; and means operatively connected to the back and the linkage means for resiliently urging the lower portion of the linkage means forwardly as the upper end of the back is forced rearwardly thereby urging the seat toward said other position and for providing limited pivotal movement of the back after the seat reaches said other position.

6. A chair comprising: a frame; a back having upper and lower ends; a generally horizontal shaft passing through the back for pivotally mounting the back on the frame and closer to the lower end than the upper end; a seat supported on the frame forwardly of the back in one position and movable to another position forwardly therefrom; first and second brackets mounted at the back end of the seat; linkage means including first and second elements each pivotally connected to one of the brackets and to the portion of the shaft disposed inside the back; the lower end of the back having at least one opening for the passage of the elements; and means associated with the back and linkage means for urging the lower portion of the linkage means forwardly as the upper end of the back is forced rearwardly thereby urging the seat toward said other position and for providing limited pivotal movement of the back after the seat reaches said other position; said means associated with the back and linkage means including at least one spring mounted on the portion of the shaft inside the back and engaging an inner portion of the back and a portion of the linkage means inside the back.

7. A chair as set forth in claim 6 wherein at least one of the elements has an arcuate slot located a radial distance from the shaft in the portion of the element inside the back, and wherein the means associated with the back and linkage means also includes a finger attached to the back and disposed in the slot to limit pivotal movement of the back with respect to the elements.

8. A chair comprising: a frame; a back having upper and lower ends; a generally horizontal shaft passing through the back for pivotally mounting the back on the frame and closer to the lower end than the upper end; a seat supported on the frame forwardly of the back in one position and movable to another position forwardly therefrom; linkage means having a lower portion pivotally connected to the seat and an upper portion mounted on the shaft inside the back for pivotal movement relative to the back; and means associated with the back and linkage means for urging the lower portion of the linkage means forwardly as the upper end of the back is forced rearwardly thereby urging the seat toward said other position and for providing limited pivotal movement of the back after the seat reaches said other position; said means associated with the back and linkage means including at least one spring engaging an inner portion of the back and a portion of the linkage means.

9. In a chair having a frame; a back having upper and lower ends; means mounting the back on the frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis intermediate said ends; and a seat supported on the frame forwardly of the back in one position and movable to another position forwardly therefrom; the improvement comprising: linkage means having a lower portion operatively connected to the seat and an upper portion mounted for pivotal movement relative to the back; and spring means engaged with the back and the linkage means for urging the lower portion of the linkage means forwardly as the upper end of the back is forced rearwardly and for providing resilient pivotal movement of the back after the seat reaches said other position.

10. In a chair having a frame; a back having upper and lower ends; means mounting the back on the frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis intermediate said ends; and a seat supported on the frame forwardly of the back in one position and movable to H another postion forwardly therefrom; the improvement comprising: linkage means having an upper portion mounted for pivotal movement relative to the back and a lower portion operatively connected to the seat for movement therewith as the seat moves between said positions; and means associated with the back and linkage means for providing a lost-motion connection therebetween and limiting the relative movement of the back and linkage means.

11. A chair comprising: a frame, a back having upper and lower ends; means mounting the back on the frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis intermediate its upper and lower ends; a seat supported on the frame forwardly of the back in one position and movable from said one position to another position forwardly therefrom; linkage means operatively connected to the seat and back for pivotal movement relative to the back; stop means on the chair for limiting movement of the seat and linkage means when the seat reaches said other position; and spring means operatively connected to the back and the linkage means for urging 10 the linkage means and seat toward said other position when the back is reclined and for providing resilient pivotal movement of the back when the seat and linkage means have stopped moving at said other position of the seat.

12. A chair as set forth in claim 11 including means on the chair for limiting said resilient pivotal movement of the back when the seat is at said other position.

13. A chair as set forth in claim 11 wherein the spring means is operative to urge the back toward an upright position, and including means on the chair for limiting said resilient pivotal movement of the back when the seat is at said other position and for limiting movement of the back toward said upright position relative to the linkage means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 437,938 10/ 1890 Richards 297291 1,776,418 9/1930 Dujardin 297317 2,627,898 2/1953 Jackson 297342 FOREIGN PATENTS 820,473 11/1951 Germany.

477,618 11/ 1938 Great Britain.

503,766 4/ 1939 Great Britain.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. A CHAIR COMPRISING: A FRAME; A BACK HAVING UPPER AND LOWER ENDS; MEANS MOUNTING THE BACK ON THE FRAME FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS INTERMEDIATE ITS UPPER AND LOWER ENDS; A SEAT SUPPORTED ON THE FRAME FORWARDLY OF THE BACK IN ONE POSITION, AND MOVABLE FROM SAID ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER POSITION FORWARDLY THEREFROM; STOP MEANS ON THE CHAIR FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT AT SAID POSITIONS; AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE SEAT AND THE BACK FOR URGING THE SEAT TOWARD SAID OTHER POSITION WHEN THE BACK IS RECLINED AND FOR PROVIDING LIMITED SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE BACK AFTER THE STOP MEANS LIMITS FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT AT SAID OTHER POSITION; SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING LINKAGE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE SEAT FOR URGING THE SEAT TOWARD SAID OTHER POSITION WHEN THE BACK IS RECLINED AND LOST-MOTION MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE BACK FOR ENGAGING THE LINKAGE MEANS TO LIMIT SAID SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE BACK. 